In 1922, I started a Monday Musings sub-series in which I shared news about Australian literature from a century ago. I wrote several posts for the sub-series in the first couple of years, but fewer in the last couple of years. This is not because I lost interest, but because the issues started to repeat … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: on 1926: 1, First Nations language and literature
Language
What do you say when you order food at a restaurant?
This post is not quite on my usual topic. It's about a little linguistic issue that's been bothering me of late - though it's been around for a little while now. It's this ... When you order food at a restaurant or cafe, what do you say? "May I have a long black please" or … Continue reading What do you say when you order food at a restaurant?
David Foster Wallace, Twenty-four word notes (Review)
David Foster Wallace got me in with the first few words of his essay "Twenty-four word notes". They are: Utilize A noxious puff word. Oh yes! "Utilise" (as we down under spell it) is one of my pet peeves. Why use "utilise" when "use" is a perfectly good word? I regularly mutter. Wallace is a … Continue reading David Foster Wallace, Twenty-four word notes (Review)
Apostrophes amok
Seen on our recent holiday in Kununurra, in the Kimberleys: Don't you feel sorry for the "table tops"? They look rather lonely in there. My philosophy regarding apostrophes is a simple one: When in doubt, leave them out. I find the odd missing apostrophe far less distracting than the opposite - but perhaps that's just … Continue reading Apostrophes amok
Whispering Gums 